Spinal stabilization system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a spinal implant system that incorporates unique snap, or spring loaded, features to assist the surgeon in the placement of screws, rods, hooks and transverse connectors. The poly-axial movement also uses a more direct loading lower saddle into the bone screw to improve locking of the construct.

1 . A spinal connecting device for coupling a first spinal rod to a second spinal rod, comprising:
 a head assembly including a first rod clamp, the first rod clamp having at least two sidewalls forming a first spinal rod receiving passage, with a clamp spacing between the at least two sidewalls at a location proximate to a distal end of the at least two sidewalls being less than a diameter of the first spinal rod; and   a connector body including a second rod clamp, the second rod clamp including at least one fixed wall and one moveable wall forming a second spinal rod receiving passage, the moveable wall adjustable between a first position and a second position, wherein a spacing between a distal portion of the fixed wall and a distal portion of the moveable wall when the moveable wall is in the first position is less than a diameter of the second spinal rod and a spacing between a distal portion of the fixed wall and a distal portion of the moveable wall when the moveable wall is in the second position is equal to or greater than the diameter of the second spinal rod.   
     
     
         2 . The spinal connecting device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector body is rotatably coupled to the head assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The spinal connecting device of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the at least two sidewalls is capable of flexing to a first flexed position, thereby increasing the clamp spacing between the at least two sidewalls at a location proximate to a distal end of the at least two sidewalls to at least the diameter of the first spinal rod, thereby permitting the first spinal rod to fit within the first spinal rod receiving passage. 
     
     
         4 . The spinal connecting device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two sidewalls provisionally engage the first spinal rod and selectively retain the first spinal rod within the first spinal rod receiving passage but allow the first spinal rod to slide along a longitudinal axis of the first spinal rod within the first spinal rod receiving passage upon application of an outside force. 
     
     
         5 . The spinal connecting device of  claim 2 , wherein the first spinal rod receiving passage has a first longitudinally extending axis, and the second spinal rod receiving passage has a second longitudinally extending axis, and the connector body is capable of rotating to a plurality of orientations relative to the head assembly, at least one of the plurality of orientations being where the first and second longitudinally extending axes are substantially parallel and at least one of the plurality of orientations being where the first and second longitudinally extending axes are substantially perpendicular. 
     
     
         6 . The spinal connecting device of  claim 2 , wherein displacement of the head assembly towards the connector body urges the moveable wall from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The spinal connecting device of  claim 2 , further comprising a single locking mechanism which, when actuated, fixedly secures the first spinal rod to the first rod clamp and fixedly secures the second spinal rod to the second rod clamp. 
     
     
         8 . A connecting device for coupling a first spinal rod to a second spinal rod, comprising:
 a head assembly including a first rod clamp, the first rod clamp including a first clamping assembly to make a first provisional connection with the first spinal rod, wherein the first provisional connection engages the first spinal rod and applies sufficient frictional resistance to inhibit free movement of the first spinal rod relative to the first rod clamp but allow movement of the first spinal rod relative to the first rod clamp upon application of an outside force, and   a connector body coupled to the head assembly, the connector body including a second rod clamp.   
     
     
         9 . The connecting device of  claim 8 , wherein the second rod clamp further comprises a second clamping assembly to make a second provisional connection with the second spinal rod, wherein the second provisional connection engages the second spinal rod and applies sufficient frictional resistance to inhibit free movement of the second spinal rod relative to the second rod clamp but allow movement of the second spinal rod relative to the second rod clamp upon application of an outside force. 
     
     
         10 . The connecting device of  claim 9 , wherein the connector body is rotatably coupled to the head assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The connecting device of  claim 10 , wherein the first clamping assembly engages the first spinal rod along a first longitudinally extending rod axis, and the second clamping assembly engages the second spinal rod along a second longitudinally extending rod axis, and the rotatable coupling facilitates relative displacement of the head assembly and the connector body to a plurality of relative orientations, including a first relative orientation where the first and second longitudinally extending rod axes are parallel and a second relative orientation where the first and second longitudinally extending rod axes are transverse. 
     
     
         12 . The connecting device of  claim 8 , wherein the second rod clamp further comprises a second clamping assembly that selectively engages the second spinal rod in response to movement of at least a portion of the head assembly relative to the connector body. 
     
     
         13 . The connecting device of  claim 12 , wherein the connector body is rotatably coupled to the head assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The connecting device of  claim 13 , wherein the first clamping assembly engages the first spinal rod along a first longitudinally extending rod axis, and the second clamping assembly engages the second spinal rod along a second longitudinally extending rod axis, and the rotatable coupling facilitates relative displacement of the head assembly and the connector body to a plurality of relative orientations, including a first relative orientation where the first and second longitudinally extending rod axes are parallel and a second relative orientation where the first and second longitudinally extending rod axes are transverse. 
     
     
         15 . A connecting device for coupling a first surgical rod to a second surgical rod, comprising:
 a first assembly including a first surgical rod clamp, the first surgical rod clamp including a pair of flexible jaws defining a first surgical rod receiving passage for accommodating the first surgical rod, wherein a distal portion of the flexible jaws is spaced apart a distance less than a diameter of the first surgical rod and retains the first surgical rod within the first surgical rod receiving passage with sufficient frictional resistance to inhibit free movement of the first spinal rod relative to the first rod clamp but allow movement of the first surgical rod relative to the first surgical rod clamp upon application of an outside force,   a second assembly including a second surgical rod clamp, the second surgical rod clamp including a fixed jaw and a moveable jaw, the fixed and moveable jaws defining a second surgical rod receiving passage for accommodating the second surgical rod, wherein the moveable jaw in a first position is spaced apart from the fixed jaw a first distance that is less than a diameter of the second surgical rod and the moveable jaw in a second position is spaced apart from the fixed jaw a second distance that is equal or greater than the diameter of the second surgical rod.   
     
     
         16 . The connecting device of  claim 15 , wherein the first assembly is rotatably mounted on the second assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The connecting device of  claim 15 , wherein displacement of the first assembly towards the second assembly translates the moveable jaw to a locked position. 
     
     
         18 . The connecting device of  claim 16 , further comprising a locking mechanism which, when actuated, fixedly secures the first surgical rod to the first assembly, fixedly secures the second surgical rod to the second assembly and immobilizes the rotatable mount between the first assembly and the second assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The connecting device of  claim 16 , wherein the first surgical rod receiving passage includes a first longitudinal passage axis and the second surgical rod receiving passage includes a second longitudinal passage axis, and rotation of the first assembly relative to the second assembly orients the first longitudinal passage axis at a plurality of orientations relative to the second longitudinal passage axis, at least one of the plurality of orientations including a first orientation where the first longitudinal passage axis is parallel to the second longitudinal passage axis and at least one of the plurality of orientations including a second orientation where the first longitudinal passage axis is transverse to the second longitudinal passage axis. 
     
     
         20 . The connecting device of  claim 15 , further comprising a spring connected to the moveable jaw and the fixed jaw, the spring urging the moveable jaw towards the first position, wherein when the second surgical rod receiving passage accommodates the second surgical rod, the spring applies sufficient force to the moveable jaw to create a frictional resistance to inhibit free relative movement of the second surgical rod relative to the second surgical rod clamp but allow relative movement of the second surgical rod relative to the second surgical rod clamp upon application of an outside force.